|
Hard-working Weems
might make his move
The raw receiver is slowly climbing
the depth chart, thanks to lots
of extra catches
In 2002, Marcus Weems set a record for most catches by a University of Hawaii receiver.
But the passes didn't come from Tim Chang or Shawn Withy-Allen during games, or even practice. They were delivered by volunteer Guy Antti, who played catch every day with Weems on the side, as Weems was too raw for even the scout team.
Last fall, the walk-on from Kealakehe High on the Big Island began to slowly scale the depth chart like a tentative rock climber. He still spent most of his practice time blocking as a scout team receiver, but Weems started to look like a football player, not just a tall guy who could jump and run. He even got into a game, UH's 59-28 romp over Army.
Last spring, the coaches began to notice him. Yesterday, everyone did.
Weems made perhaps the best catch of UH's 4-day-old fall camp, running a streak pattern and fully extending his 6-foot-2 body to catch a Kainoa Akina bomb during seven-on-seven drills.
He also made several routine grabs, most of which he would've dropped two years ago.
"Marcus Weems, that dude is Spider-Man," Akina said. "When he first came in he couldn't catch a cold. He's worked so hard with Guy. I betcha he's going to play."
Receivers coach Ron Lee gives Weems high marks, and head coach June Jones has elevated the third-year sophomore into the group of experienced players who have a clue.
"The veterans know what they're doing, and he's worked very hard this summer and he's getting better all the time," Jones said. "Like everyone else, he just needs to keep improving."
With his height and leaping ability, the prospect of Weems matching up against short cornerbacks on end-zone routes is a tasty one for the UH quarterbacks.
"Oh yeah," Akina said. "You should see him when we play basketball. You think Tony Akpan can dunk? This guy dunks on everyone."
Basketball and track were Weems' best sports in high school, as they emphasized his raw abilities. He knows playing receiver in the run-and-shoot offense is a learning process, even for a player some projected to be "the next Ashley Lelie."
"I'm just trying to get better every day, that's it pretty much. Guy still helps me a lot and I really appreciate him," the low-key Weems said. "I'm still just basically learning the coverages, knowing what to do against different coverages."
Weems is currently running third team behind senior Britton Komine and junior Ian Sample at left wide receiver.
The bald truth: Senior Se'e Poumele continues to hold on to the No. 1 spot at the "Y" slot, ahead of junior Nate Ilaoa, who is coming off knee surgery. But he knows it's too early to count on starting the Sept. 4 season-opener against Florida Atlantic.
"Anything can happen. Everyone's out here for a reason, because they're good," Poumele said. "I'm getting an opportunity because Nate got hurt, but a lot can happen between now and game one. If it's me or Nate when game one comes around, it will be good for the team."
Poumele might be hard for some to recognize; his long mane of hair is all gone.
"I did have good hair. But I had it for two years, so I figured I'd go for a new look. I'm getting older and I've got to cut it some time, so I figured I'd cut it while I'm still in college," he said. "When I graduated from high school I started growing it out. Mike Bass had the opportunity to cut it.
"Yeah, I save on shampoo. And on Drano, too," he said.
The long ball: Akina, who is still the first to throw after starter Tim Chang, displayed good accuracy with long passes yesterday.
"That was a real focus for me this summer, since this offense is about stretching the defense vertically. That was a phase of my game I worked on a lot this summer," he said.
The junior from the long line of Akina quarterbacks was quick to pass compliments about his competition to be Chang's first backup. He mentioned a veteran-like read by true freshman Tyler Graunke.
"And (second-year freshman) Jack (Rolovich), Jack's just got a gun. He's just got to work on his reads. But we're all getting better," Akina said.
Short yardage: Senior Phil Kauffman is filling in at right guard while Uriah Moenoa nurses a minor knee strain. ... JC transfer cornerback Turmarian Moreland was still awaiting non-medical clearance to practice yesterday, along with freshman defensive tackles Clarence Tuioti-Mariner and Fale Laeli, junior defensive tackle Lawrence Wilson and sophomore receiver Jason Rivers. ... Jones said the Warriors will scrimmage twice before the season opener, but not this weekend.
uhathletics.hawaii.edu
